Word Origin & History

Old English tellan "to reckon, calculate, consider, account," from Proto-Germanic *taljanan "to mention in order" (cf. Old Saxon tellian, Old Norse telja, Old Frisian tella "to count, tell," Dutch tellen "to count, reckon," Old Saxon talon "to count, reckon," Danish tale "to speak," Old High German zalon, German zählen "to count, reckon"), from root *talo (see tale). Meaning "to narrate, relate" is from c.1000; that of "to make known by speech or writing, announce" is from early 12c. Sense of "to reveal or disclose" is from c.1400; that of "to act as an informer, to 'peach' " is recorded from 1901. Meaning "to order (someone to do something)" is from 1590s. Original sense in teller and phrase to tell time. For sense evolution, cf. French conter "to count," raconter "to recount;" Italian contare, Spanish contar "to count, recount, narrate;" German zählen "to count," erzählen "to recount, narrate."

Telling "having effect or force" is from 1852.

Example Sentences for tell

Tell Mrs. Van Geist if she can't come down, I'll run up to her.

Take it at once, and tell her I shall be up to see her presently.

I could tell it, if nothing else showed it, by the way in which she overdoes respectability.

Did he tell you how to make a lovely asparagus short-cake or something?

Don't mind him, dad—I know all about it, I tell you—I'll explain later to you.

But she constantly recalls what that snobbish Bines was unfair enough to tell her.

If you think it is I'll tell you something that isn't: Avice practically refused him.

"But I tell you she isn't right," insisted Percival, warmly.

Aspasia will tell you I have been a beautiful but idle dreamer all my life.

"I thought I would come and tell you," said Halbert, coloring a little.